Qing Chi Mansion is located in the northwest of Da Qi, adjacent to the barbarian clan in northern Sai.

Traveling on foot, traveling thousands of miles to be an official.

Wen Yu carried the luggage on her back, her fingers were frozen and could not be straightened, she exhaled hot air and rubbed her hands, the hot air instantly condensed into hoarfrost in the air.

Arriving in Yixin County, it was no longer a desolate snow scene. Wen Yu saw the crops covered by a layer of snow. She stood in the field for a long time. A timely snow promises a good harvest. The snow covered the crops.There will be a good harvest.She was a little relieved and joyful.

After rushing from Capital City to Qingchi Mansion, Wen Yu was heaving a sigh of relief, but she didn't stop for a moment.The journey has made her body a little thinner, but fortunately, she was born in poverty since she was a child. Compared with the haggard heart, the tiredness on her body is so easy.

The time Wen Yu arrived in Yixin County was ten days earlier than the scheduled fifth day of the new year.There is no welcome, and the county magistrates here have not yet started to prepare. What Yixin County used to be is what it was when she came.

The snow gradually stopped, and the city wall of Yixin County was right in front of Wen Yu's eyes.

Due to its special geographical location, the city wall of Yixin County is very high and thick. After years of wind and frost, it is covered with mottled black bloodstains and engravings left by swords, guns and weapons, giving it a sense of solemnity.

But the first thing that caught her eyes was not the majestic and towering city wall, but the hill-like corpse under the heel of the city wall, covered with thatch, with only purple and blue ankles exposed.

Wen Yu's complexion changed instantly, her dry and chapped lips were tightened, and she felt her stomach was overwhelmed.

Standing at the gate of the city were two men in cotton robes who looked like soldiers, drinking hot wine and chatting there.The corpses piled up like the mountains not far from them were nothing but dry wood and grass.

Wen Yu looked at the hand that had healed up long ago and had grown white new flesh, and scratched in the air a few times in vain.

She lowered her eyes, and there were still a few unmelted snowflakes hanging on her eyelashes.Finally calmed down, Wen Yu lifted up the cage she was carrying, with an unhappy expression on her face, but because of her stiff face, she couldn't see any leaked emotions for a while.

She did not take out the appointed documents, but simply handed over the household register to the two guards under the city gate.

The two looked at Wen Zhen, who looked like a scholar and was alone, and thought of the students who had been passing by here in recent days to catch the exam in Qingchi Mansion, so they readily let them go.

The dark-skinned strong master soldier pinned the flagon to his waist, feeling a little lost, and let out a long yawn: "Brother Li, did the higher-ups tell us to pay attention to the one that passed by just now?"

The person who spoke was slightly older than Yan Xizhuang, and his skin was not so dark, "Xizhuang, don't be suspicious all day long. If you want me to say, definitely not, if it is really a county magistrate, will he come alone? Look at the scholar just nowShe looks so weak, she has to go through us to go to Qingchi. The county exam is coming up next year, so it's probably a candidate from a nearby county."

Brother Li's full name is Li Gousheng. He doesn't like this name, so people who know him, except his father, his mother and his wife, don't call him that.

"That's right, that man was dressed similarly to me just now, except for his handsome face, he doesn't look like he has a lot of money." Yan Xizang muttered, "The pretty boy must be attractive to women, I haven't found a wife yet."

Li Gouzeng laughed and patted him on the shoulder, "You can find it, you can find it. You've fallen in love with that girl. Come back and ask your mother to propose marriage. You won't be able to run away."

Loose city defenses, piles of people who don't know whether they died from freezing or how.

The cage on Wen Yu's body became heavier and heavier.

On the first day of her twenties, she really received a great gift.

Speaking of which, on the night when she left Beijing, she was very happy to see Song Duan at first, and she wanted to exchange words with him, but unfortunately, it failed.

In Capital City, it is another new year, and the lanterns are shining brightly, full of joy.This year's Spring Festival, vendors and vendors on the street are waiting to earn the last sum of money from a year ago, so even though they are shivering from the cold, they are still yelling and selling.

As soon as he entered Beijing, Lu Youzhi was called into the palace by Xie Yu, and the two talked at night until Yinshi the next day.

Lu Youzhi has been in Capital City for more than ten days now, and the former residence of Minister of War has been given to someone else by the former emperor.

Therefore, after meeting Lu You, Xie Yu arranged a new residence for him.

This new house is next to the mansion of the court elder Xu Miaochang, no one would dare to say that this is a coincidence, after all, the people who live here are either the court elders or the nobles.Lu Youzhi has not been awarded an official yet, but he lives here. Which of the Capital City officials would not understand the twists and turns here.

Whether it's old friends or acquaintances or political enemies, whether it's sincere or tempting.They seemed to have forgotten the filth of the past overnight, and they all showed smiles. They sent countless congratulatory stickers to Lu Youzhi in the name of congratulating the new year.The gate was broken.

But within three days of this grand scene, Lu Youzhi took advantage of his physical discomfort and illness, closed the door to thank the guests, and never went out again.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the wintersweet in the palace bloomed.

White as snow, yellow as honey, pink as clouds.The cold fragrance is lingering and refreshing.

The imperial doctor would come to Lu's residence almost every other day to feel Lu Youzhi's pulse and do acupuncture. Lu Youzhi's physical condition was indeed not as good as before.But fortunately, have been drinking the medicine, as long as don't work too hard and worry too much, can live for a few more years without any problem.

The imperial doctor kneeling under His Highness trembled and raised his eyes quietly.

I only saw Xie Yuchui thinking about what he was thinking about, his eyes were full of deep black, and he couldn't see any emotion.

The imperial doctor panicked for some reason: "Your Majesty, Mr. Lu is now over sixty. Even if he is free of illness, he is still old. If Mr. Lu had not been in good health when he was young, he might have died a long time ago. The officer has really tried his best.All out."

Xie Yu waved his hand, telling him to step back.He has known about Lu Youzhi's health for a long time, and if he hangs his life with herbs every day, he will live for a few more years without any problems.

But from time to time, a blurry picture flashed in my mind. In the picture, I showed a youthful smile and looked at the person beside me.The lips of the younger self kept moving, seeming to be both joyful and shy.

Xie Yu rubbed his forehead with his thumb, and his emerald fingers were green and clear, making his knuckles more and more slender, showing a cold chill.

But he couldn't remember what he said, and as for the face of the person next to him, it was also a blur.

The eunuch Zhao Xi who was waiting at the side promptly brought a cup of tea and put it on the desk: "Your Majesty, have some tea."

What image flashed in Xie Yu's mind: "Big companion, what day is today?"

After Zhao Xi served the tea, he stood on one side with his head bowed and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month is a new year."

The dense clouds in front of him suddenly dispersed, and he heard the words at that time: We will call each other Biaozi after you are weak.

Xie Yu suddenly threw the wrench in his hand onto the table, raised his head and didn't know what he was thinking.

There were three people sitting in Lu's study, and the attendants outside the door were also dismissed in advance.

Lu Youzhi, Wu Ju, Song Duan.

Even though both Lu and Wu have gray hair, Wu Ju's body looks much stronger than Lu Youzhi's.

Lu Youzhi smiled and said, "Old Wu, you are here today. I just wonder how long you can endure."

Wu Ju stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. The two of them hadn't seen each other for more than ten years, but they didn't see each other at all.

Song Duan saluted: "Uncle Master."

Lu Youzhi smoothed his goatee, "My student, who turns 20 today, is not as aggressive as you were back then. Unfortunately, he is too stubborn. However, Your Majesty is really interesting. I'm here, let Heng Qileft."

"Heng Qi?" Song Duan was a little puzzled.

Lu Youzhi: "It's the child's name, Wen Yu, Wen Heng Qi."

When Song Duan heard Wen Yu's name, his hands twitched, and he sighed in a low voice: "Yes, it's a coincidence."

That night, the little junior seemed to want to say something to himself at first, but he interrupted him.

Heng Qi, it turned out that she wanted to exchange words with herself that day.

Song Duan suddenly felt cold. Could it be that he did something wrong, but if he didn't say it clearly, the younger brother would only regard him as a relative and an elder brother.

He has no regrets.

Song Duan seemed to be immersed in some unspeakable emotion, and he almost just nodded in agreement, a little too silent.Wu Ju, who got acquainted with his temperament, glanced at him several times.

When Lu Youzhi talked about Wen Yu, he naturally became more talkative, and anyone could hear his satisfaction and pride for this disciple in his words.

About two hours later, the two of them had dinner here before leaving the Lu residence.

Wu Ju folded his hands behind his back, admiring the unique scenery of Lu Mansion, and suddenly said, "Your Majesty is so handy!"

Song Duan followed half a step behind him and echoed.

"Did the Wen family boy have a conflict with you before he left Beijing?"

Song Duan smiled as if nothing had happened, and the snowy scenery in the courtyard was reflected in the phoenix eyes on the top: "Teacher, you are too worried, how could I have a clue with my junior brother."

Wu Ju chuckled: "Heng Qi, that's a good word. There are no vegetation on the mountain, it's all up to me, let's see how that Wen Qi is made!"

"The name is upright, and the characters are virtuous. 瑎 is a black stone like jade, which is tough and expensive. It needs to be tempered by wind, frost, snow and rain to become firm and moist. It is the same with people. You are stubborn and disdain the rich and powerful in this world."It is a good thing in the body, but it is a matter of business in the world. A gentleman is like Heng, with feathers and clothes shining. Rather than being like jade, it is better to be a mountain, so let’s call it Heng Qi.”

Wen Yu seemed to be able to recall the helpless but expectant expression on the teacher's face back then.

At that time, Lu Youzhi patted Wen Yu's head with wrinkled hands: "If you hit the stone, there will be fire, if you don't hit the yuan, there will be no smoke. The road ahead must be easy."

Wen Yu, Wen Heng Qi.

But before the smile appeared on his face, Wen Yu saw the scene in Yixin County.

The people are living in dire straits, their skin is thin and their bones are thin. In the twelfth lunar month of winter, they froze to death on the streets.Not to mention the joy at the end of the new year, Wen Yu even felt that the faces of passers-by on the road were full of fear.

The snow that had stopped for a while began to fall again.There are few pedestrians on the street and the pace is fast.

At this time, the sun was hanging directly above the sky, and it was very cold under the winter sun.

Wen Yu walked in along the main road, picked up the sheepskin bag and took a sip of water, the water in it was already cold.

The layout of Yixin County is very regular. Back then, the roads were built to be spacious for the convenience of the army.

There are almost no open shops on the street, only a small inn that has been open for a long time. The tables and chairs inside reveal a sense of old and dilapidated. It is obviously a meal, but there is no customer inside., and no servants.

A gray-haired woman sat behind the counter of the inn, with her head lowered as if she was trying to settle accounts. Wen Yu could hear the crackling of the abacus.

Wen Yu approached and said, "Mother-in-law, mother-in-law. I want to ask the way."

The woman seemed to have bad ears, so Wen Yu had to repeat a little louder: "Do you know how to get to the county government office?"

"Go, go to the county government office?" The woman finally raised her head, maybe the sunlight just hit her eyes through the crack of the window, and the pupils of the white-haired woman shrank suddenly.

Only then did Wen Yu realize that her right eye was gray and white, and she could no longer see.

"Follow the road, and you'll see it in a while."

Wen Yu thanked her, put down a few copper coins, and filled the sheepskin bag with water.

Leaving this old inn, Wen Yu continued to walk along the main street for about two quarters of an hour.There was a sudden sound of drums in front of her. She quickened her pace and finally arrived at the place. Looking up, she saw the four characters of Yi Xin County Office on the plaque hanging over the gate.

Outside the door, an old man with the appearance of a peasant in thin clothes was holding a drum hammer and beating continuously.

But within two beats of the big drum, the guard in the uniform of a yamen servant threw the old man onto the snow."Fuck off, it's Chinese New Year's Eve. You don't want to rest, but Grandpa still wants to!"

The man seemed to notice that Wen Yu was looking at her, and spit a few times in her direction."Why, pretty boy, you also came here to complain."

Wen Yu's face darkened.